“Where are we going?” Cheryl asks.
“My mother wants you to rest. You’ve been through a lot, and we’ll need your testimonies in my brother’s trial.”
That’s new information, and I don’t like the implications. “And when exactly is the trial taking place?”
“Why, Ronan? Are you in a hurry to leave?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. You know very well what’s at stake. Don’t play dumb.”
We reach a junction in the hallway, and Castiel turns around. He glances at the guards, and I sense that he doesn’t want to discuss what’s at stake in front of them. I bite my tongue for now.
“I wouldn’t even know how to do that,” he replies, then glances at a party approaching us from the left.
The queen is coming, accompanied by a group of four females and a massive black wolf by her side. It’s twice as large as the wolves back home. I watch the animal closely and notice the white markings on its face and its neon blue eyes. It’s a beautiful animal.
“I didn’t realize there were wolves in Ellnesari,” Cheryl says.
“Ah yes, they’re sacred animals in Etheos Kingdom, where I’m from. They’re called shadow wolves,” the queen replies, running a hand over the animal’s head. “This one is Luna, and she’s been my companion since I was a young child.”
“So… a long while, then. Are they immortals like the Nightingales?” Cheryl asks.
The queen smiles. “They have a natural long life, but Luna is bound to me, so her life force is linked to mine.”
Cheryl’s eyes grow larger. “Oh, like vampire familiars.”
The queen nods. “Yes, similar. However, Luna doesn’t shift into Nightingale form, unlike you, my dear, who possesses two forms.”
Cheryl’s eyebrows pinch together, and I’m blasted by her annoyance. “I’m not a familiar.”
The queen’s lips curl upward. “I know.”
Luna approaches Cheryl, who stands her ground. The wolf isn’t threatening, and Cheryl isn’t distraught at the proximity, so I control the urge to act like a vampire shield. Besides, I have Ollie in my arms—I wouldn’t be able to do anything without putting the youngling at risk.
“Is there a reason they’re called shadow wolves?” I ask.
The queen smiles as if she’s holding on to a secret. It’s Castiel who replies, “Yes, they can walk the shadows.”
My forehead crinkles. I want to ask what that means, but the queen speaks before I can. “King Ruel shall arrive shortly. We’ll hold a small reception for him in a few hours, and I’m sure you want to rest and freshen up.”
Cheryl pats the wolf’s head, which is almost at her chest level. The white markings on the wolf’s face turn a glowing neon blue, matching the color of her eyes.
“Oh, Luna likes you,” the queen says. Then she gestures with her hand, and two of her ladies-in-waiting step forward, one veering for me and the other for Cheryl.
The female reaches for Ollie and I take a step back, holding her tighter. “What are you doing?”
The female lowers her arms and bows her head but doesn’t answer me.
“They’ve been instructed to take care of the younglings while you and Cheryl rest,” the queen replies calmly.
“They’re staying with us,” I retort.
Castiel arches a brow. “Are you sure you don’t want some time alone without kids?”
The son of a bitch. He knows very well I want to be alone with Cheryl, but I can’t surrender the younglings to strangers in a foreign land.
“Where exactly are you taking them?” Cheryl asks.
“Their quarters are next to yours. If you feel more at ease, you can take them there yourselves.” The queen smiles, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she inclines her head slightly, the gesture reminiscent of a mother acknowledging a child’s small triumph. “I’ll leave Luna with them. No one will harm them while she stands guard.”
